Wollongong Breakwater Lighthouse is no longer in use today but looks to have been in good working order in this photograph.
Can you date this photograph?
We have many other undated photographs in Photo Investigator and on our Flickr account. If you know the dates or any other interesting facts about these images please let us know.
Category: General
Joel Thompson says:
Hi, I am Wollongong Council’s Heritage Officer. I am unable to give a firm date on this photograph but offer the following clues that may assist with dating:
– The outer Wollongong Harbour break wall was built in 1967 and does not show in this photo.
– the small 1932 concrete change sheds at the gentleman’s baths are present (though I am not sure when these were demolished).
– There are no modern apartment/unit buildings on the hill along Cliff Road and the earlier ones of these appeared in the 1960s.
– The Norfolk pines on the hill appear to be, if anything slightly smaller than a similar image in Wollongong Libraries “Illawarra Images collection” that is dated 1847 and the rest of the scene appears fairly similar. See http://mylibrary.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/FULL/PIC/BIBENQ/16833368/17542362,166?FMT=IMG&IMGNUM=1
(this is Image number P04891).
Given the above it appears likely that this image dates to the 1940’s, probably pre 1947.
Given all this I would say the photo would have to be late 50’s to early 60’s? My money would be on early 1960’s.
Joel Thompson says:
A couple of corrections to above. Please ignore the last sentence (this was my earlier conclusion prior to further refinement of my thinking. Also the date of the similar photo is 1947 (not 1847). Got a little slap happy.
Anna Gray says:
Thanks Joel. Lots of good evidence for your proposal of a 1940’s or pre 1947 date.